Sunday, February 26, 2012

Wood Frogs

Weather conditions have finally spurred Wood Frogs to
congregate in their breeding ponds.They’ve arrived in record numbers at the Blue Jay Barrens pond.

Wood Frogs have only been using this pond for about the last
ten years and there were a couple years during that time that I didn’t hear or
see any Wood Frogs at all.Their numbers
have grown steadily over the last three years.

This is the first year that there has been noticeable
breeding activity during the day.The
frogs maintained a constant flow of ripples across the pond surface.

Males floated about watching for a passing female.

Sight of a prospective mate led to a chase.

In most cases, the pair plunged beneath the water at the
moment of contact.The sound and splash
reminded me of a bass feeding on the surface.

The joined couple would then head down to the pond bottom to
prepare for egg laying.

This is the anticipated outcome.I’m hoping the pond will be full of these egg
masses in a few days.

ABOUT BLUE JAY BARRENS

Located in the Bluegrass region of Southern Ohio, Blue Jay Barrens contains excellent xeric habitat inhabited by a wide variety of rare native plant and animal species. Since 1985, this private property has been managed to improve the integrity of the special ecosystems found here. This blog provides information on the current activities at Blue Jay Barrens.

RESPONSE TO COMMON QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS BLOG

It’s my intent to share information on current events at Blue Jay Barrens. Unless otherwise noted in the text, all photos were taken by me at Blue Jay Barrens.

Plant scientific names are from Gleason and Cronquist 1991. I realize that some changes in preferred nomenclature have occurred, but this is the principle reference I have been using for flora identification. Knowing this, I believe most people can figure out just what plant I’m talking about.

My discussions of flora and fauna are not intended to be a complete life history. There are plenty of good references for this type of information. I am discussing my personal experiences with plants and animals on this specific property. Any other information I may provide is intended to help you understand the significance of my observations.

MY 3 FAVORITE NATURE BOOKS:

1- Of Mosquitoes, Moths and Mice, by C Brooke Worth.2- Mosquito Safari: A Naturalist in Southern Africa, by C Brooke Worth.3- A Naturalist in Trinidad, by C Brooke Worth.

MY 3 FAVORITE FICTION BOOKS:

1- The Witches of Karres by James H Schmitz2- The Day of the Triffids by John Wyndham3- The Windhover Tapes (1st 3 volumes) by Warren Norwood

MY 3 FAVORITE MOVIES:

1- Vanishing Point 1971 with Barry Newman2- Flim Flam Man 1967 with George C Scott - also like the book by Guy Owens3- The Lathe Of Heaven 1979 with Bruce Davison - also like the book by Ursula K LeGuin

MY 3 FAVORITE TV SHOWS:

1- The Prisoner with Patrick McGoohan2- Fawlty Towers with John Cleese3- Kolchak: The Night Stalker with Darren McGavin